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Solving our bike problem
09 Jul 2008
Motorbikes are everywhere in Dzodze, a vibrant suburban community in Ghana’s Volta Region. But this phenomenon has come at a price.
Almost two years ago, the commercial use of motorbikes was unknown in Dzodze, a vibrant suburban community in Ghana’s Volta Region. Today, the motorbikes are everywhere. The phenomenon, apparently borrowed from neighbouring Lome in Togo, has not come without a price however.
A brief descriptive study of cases of motorbike accidents reported at our hospital over a five month period captures the challenge; 59% of victims fell into the youthful age group of 16-30 years while the majority of victims (45%) were motorbike riders who sustained varying degrees of injuries from mild abrasions through lacerations to fractures and head injuries.
Meanwhile, only 4% of motorbike riders and passengers used helmets.
My twinning exercise with Kojo thus offered just the perfect opportunity to Inter Act with the Motorbike Union of Dzodze. Typically, we could have opted for the more traditional problem-focused approach of isolating the problem with its attendant limited attention to areas of improvement.
We however did not want the problem focus to become our reality. Rather, using the theory of Appreciative Inquiry, we employed the gentle art of questioning to open up new possibilities among the bikers.
We recognised the important social service that they rendered to the community and hoped that through the medium of great conversations, health workers and riders could act together to address some of the challenges that confronted us.
Job creation
Union leaders spoke with pride about how jobs had been created for young people, decreased incidents of robberies, transportation of teachers into schools located in remote areas etc.
With affordable charges, no efficient taxi service, and with greater access including taking clients to their very doorsteps, they had virtually become an indispensable community gem. Their major challenge however quite apart from those identified above, was their status in the eyes of the law, often leading to frequent run-ins with law enforcement agencies.
Faced with the powerful question of how to use the strength of their union and other available resources, we could address the various challenges. It was magical to see the great homegrown solutions generated by the over 112 riders and motorbike owners gathered;
Solutions
1. To invite vehicle licensing officials to assist with;
(a) Practical training and retraining on motor bikeriding
(b) Education on road signs and road safety practices
2. To stop overloading
3. To initiate steps to acquire helmets for riders and passengers
4. To put a stop to drinking alcohol while riding
5. To initiate a process of advocacy to legalise the commercial use of motorbikes as a useful and viable means of transport in Dzodze and other rural communities
6. To make available a health worker to assist in periodic health education to motorbike riders on first aid application, STIs/HIV/Aids.
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